EP0426497A2 - Helmet mounted display - Google Patents

Helmet mounted display Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0426497A2
EP0426497A2 EP90312055A EP90312055A EP0426497A2 EP 0426497 A2 EP0426497 A2 EP 0426497A2 EP 90312055 A EP90312055 A EP 90312055A EP 90312055 A EP90312055 A EP 90312055A EP 0426497 A2 EP0426497 A2 EP 0426497A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
display assembly
light modulator
spatial light
display
laser
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90312055A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0426497A3 (en
Inventor
Kenneth Firth
Roger Martin Langdon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
Original Assignee
GEC Marconi Ltd
Marconi Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GEC Marconi Ltd, Marconi Co Ltd filed Critical GEC Marconi Ltd
Publication of EP0426497A2 publication Critical patent/EP0426497A2/en
Publication of EP0426497A3 publication Critical patent/EP0426497A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B9/00—Simulators for teaching or training purposes
    • G09B9/02—Simulators for teaching or training purposes for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
    • G09B9/08—Simulators for teaching or training purposes for teaching control of vehicles or other craft for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer
    • G09B9/30—Simulation of view from aircraft
    • G09B9/307—Simulation of view from aircraft by helmet-mounted projector or display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B27/017—Head mounted
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B27/017—Head mounted
    • G02B27/0172—Head mounted characterised by optical features
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B27/017—Head mounted
    • G02B27/0172—Head mounted characterised by optical features
    • G02B2027/0174—Head mounted characterised by optical features holographic
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/30—Polarising elements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to helmet mounted displays.
  • Helmet mounted displays consist of a display which is attached to a helmet, (so as to be visible to a person e.g. a pilot, wearing the helmet.
  • Current helmet displays generally rely on high resolution CRTS (cathode ray tubes), the images on the CRT screen being imaged by conventional optical elements and eyepieces, and as a consequence are bulky and heavy.
  • CRTS cathode ray tubes
  • the present invention provides a display assembly suitable for mounting on a helmet in which the display assembly is formed by a spatial light modulator capable of being illuminated by a source of laser light, an optical system comprising at least one holographic element for forming an image of the said display, and an optical path between the spatial light modulator and the source of laser light, the optical path comprising a single optical fibre.
  • a spatial light modulator illuminated by a laser as the display enables holographic elements to be used in the optical system.
  • the image producing system may include a holographic collimator.
  • the spatial light modulator may comprise an electrically addressable spatial light modulator.
  • the spatial light modulator may be illuminated by laser light.
  • the optical fibre may be provided with a mode scrambler.
  • the display has an electrically - addressable spatial light modulator (EALSM) 1 on which the display to be viewed is generated.
  • the light modulator 1 is illuminated by monochromatic light from a laser 8.
  • the laser 8 may be a helium neon laser or any other suitable laser e.g. a laser diode pumped Nd:YAG laser incorporating second harmonic generation.
  • the laser 8 is preferably not mounted on the helmet, instead light is transmitted from the laser to the helmet via a single optical fibre 6.
  • Light emerging from the end of the optical fibre is passed through a diffuser 7 located in the optical path as close as possible to the EALSM, and illuminates the EALSM 1 via a polarising beam splitter 2.
  • An objective system 3 comprising one or more transmission holograms produces an intermediate image 4 of the display 1 produced by the EALSM 1.
  • This intermediate image 4 is produced at the focal plane of a collimating combiner 5 which produces an image of the display at infinity.
  • the diffuser may be mounted in the plane of the intermediate image 4.
  • the collimating combiner 5 consists of a reflection hologram comprising a holographic coating on the visor of the helmet.
  • the hologram elements may comprise elements having complex powers so as to minimise the number of elements required for a given optical performance.
  • the power of the collimating combiner 5 may be such as to compensate for optical aberrations.
  • the balance between the powers of the transmission holograms 3 and the holographic combiner 5, and the use of hologram elements having complex powers, are such as to provide a well-corrected optical performance whilst minimising the number of elements in the optical path, thereby obtaining a lightweight arrangement of relatively simple construction.
  • the diffuser spreads the exit beam and allows a certain amount of latitude in the positioning of the eye of the viewer relative to the collimated output beam 10.
  • Figure 2 eliminates the relatively bulky polarising beam splitter of Figure 1 and, due to the focussing effect of the lens 11, allows the objective system 3 to have an aperture which is much smaller than the corresponding lens 3 of Figure 1. This allows the end of the light guide 6 and the objective system 3 to be disposed adjacent each other.
  • Figure 3 shows a mode scrambler for use with any of the embodiments of the invention described above.
  • Coherent light from a laser produces a grainy or specular effect in the final image. This effect can be eliminated by providing a mode scrambler at some point along the optical fibre 6.
  • An example of a suitable mode scrambler is shown in Figure 3 in which a piezo-electric element 30 is attached to the fibre optic cable 6. The piezo-electric element 30 is driven by an alternating signal source 31 and the resulting vibrations set up in the cable cause mode scrambling of the light passing along the cable.
  • the spatial light modulator preferably comprises an electrically-addressed spatial light modulator comprising a silicon chip having an array of transistors whose metal contact areas function as specular reflectors with selectively adjustable polarisation angles. If the polarisation angle of the reflector corresponds with that of the incident light, then substantially all the incident light is reflected; if not, then light is reflected to a greater or lesser extent according to the degree of discrepancy between the respective angles of polarisation of the light and the reflectors.
  • Such a light modulator is particularly advantageous in that it allows a physically compact, high resolution display to be realised.
  • the invention may also be performed using alternative spatial light modulators such as transflective or transmissive liquid crystal displays.
  • alternative spatial light modulators such as transflective or transmissive liquid crystal displays.
  • the polarising beam splitter 2 of Figure 1 would of course not be required as illumination would be from the side of the display remote from the objective system 3.
  • the objective system 3 has been described as comprising holographic elements, it may alternatively include or consist entirely of conventional optical elements. This is especially so in the embodiment of Figure 2, where the small aperture requirements allow a small and relatively light conventional lens to be employed.
  • the diffuser may be of any convenient type, for example a conventional diffuser e.g. ground glass, a holographic diffuser, or a Dammann grating.
  • a conventional diffuser e.g. ground glass
  • a holographic diffuser e.g. a holographic diffuser
  • a Dammann grating e.g. a holographic diffuser
  • the latter is especially advantageous as it is highly efficient and produces an accurately controlled predetermined amount of spreading.
  • the holographic collimating combiner need not be located on the visor of the helmet, but may be disposed on some other transparent surface attached to the helmet in the wearer's field of view.

Abstract

A holographic objective system (3) produces an intermediate real image (4) of information displayed on an electrically addressable spatial light modulator SLM (1), the real image (4) being collimated by a powered holographic reflector (5) constructed as part of the visor of a helmet worn by the viewer (9). The SLM (1) is illuminated by laser light from a remote laser (8) via a single optical fibre (6) and beam splitter (2). A diffuser (7) is provided either between the laser and the beam splitter or in the plane of the intermediate image (4). The objective system (3) may alternatively include, or consist entirely of, conventional optical elements.

Description

  • The invention relates to helmet mounted displays.
  • Helmet mounted displays consist of a display which is attached to a helmet, (so as to be visible to a person e.g. a pilot, wearing the helmet. Current helmet displays generally rely on high resolution CRTS (cathode ray tubes), the images on the CRT screen being imaged by conventional optical elements and eyepieces, and as a consequence are bulky and heavy.
  • It is known to mount the CRT remote from the helmet and conduct an image of the CRT screen to the helmet via a light path comprising a bundle of optical fibres, the helmet incorporating conventional optics to produce an image which the user can see. However, the bundle of optical fibres required to implement this is relatively bulky and expensive. It is also known to replace conventional optics with holographic elements, thereby reducing weight and bulk: however, such holographic elements suffer unacceptable degrees of optical dispersion when used in conjunction with CRTs.
  • It is known from UK patent 1423947 to provide a head-up display for an aircraft in which the windscreen of the aircraft comprises a holographic reflector. The pilot views a liquid crystal display via this holographic reflector and a relay lens. This prior art is bulky and is unsuitable for mounting directly on a helmet.
  • It is known from US patent 4361384 to provide a helmet-mounted display arrangement in which an image is viewed via an optical path which includes reflection by a holographic reflector disposed on the visor of a helmet worn by the viewer. In this prior art the image is produced by means of a relatively low-power flat panel display and an image intensifier.
  • The present invention provides a display assembly suitable for mounting on a helmet in which the display assembly is formed by a spatial light modulator capable of being illuminated by a source of laser light, an optical system comprising at least one holographic element for forming an image of the said display, and an optical path between the spatial light modulator and the source of laser light, the optical path comprising a single optical fibre.
  • The use of a spatial light modulator illuminated by a laser as the display enables holographic elements to be used in the optical system.
  • The image producing system may include a holographic collimator. The spatial light modulator may comprise an electrically addressable spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator may be illuminated by laser light. The optical fibre may be provided with a mode scrambler.
  • Further aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:
    • Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a helmet-mounted display assembly in accordance with the invention;
    • Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a helmet-mounted display assembly in accordance with the invention; and
    • Figure 3 shows a mode scrambler for use with the embodiments of Figures and 2 in accordance with the invention.
  • As shown in Figure 1, the display has an electrically - addressable spatial light modulator (EALSM) 1 on which the display to be viewed is generated. The light modulator 1 is illuminated by monochromatic light from a laser 8. The laser 8 may be a helium neon laser or any other suitable laser e.g. a laser diode pumped Nd:YAG laser incorporating second harmonic generation.
  • The laser 8 is preferably not mounted on the helmet, instead light is transmitted from the laser to the helmet via a single optical fibre 6. Light emerging from the end of the optical fibre is passed through a diffuser 7 located in the optical path as close as possible to the EALSM, and illuminates the EALSM 1 via a polarising beam splitter 2. An objective system 3 comprising one or more transmission holograms produces an intermediate image 4 of the display 1 produced by the EALSM 1. This intermediate image 4 is produced at the focal plane of a collimating combiner 5 which produces an image of the display at infinity. In an alternative arrangement, not shown, the diffuser may be mounted in the plane of the intermediate image 4.
  • The collimating combiner 5 consists of a reflection hologram comprising a holographic coating on the visor of the helmet. The hologram elements may comprise elements having complex powers so as to minimise the number of elements required for a given optical performance. The power of the collimating combiner 5 may be such as to compensate for optical aberrations. The balance between the powers of the transmission holograms 3 and the holographic combiner 5, and the use of hologram elements having complex powers, are such as to provide a well-corrected optical performance whilst minimising the number of elements in the optical path, thereby obtaining a lightweight arrangement of relatively simple construction.
  • A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 2.
  • In Figure 2, light from a laser, not shown, emerges from a fibre optic light guide 6, passes through a polariser 12, passes through a positive lens 11 disposed in front of the SLM and falls on the SLM 1. The SLM 1 is oriented such that light reflected from the SLM 1 now passes back through the lens 11, through polariser 13 and into the objective system 3. The objective system 3 produces a real image of the SLM in the plane of a diffuser 15. The image so produced is reflected by the holographic reflector 5 into the eye 9 of the viewer.
  • The diffuser spreads the exit beam and allows a certain amount of latitude in the positioning of the eye of the viewer relative to the collimated output beam 10.
  • The arrangement of Figure 2 eliminates the relatively bulky polarising beam splitter of Figure 1 and, due to the focussing effect of the lens 11, allows the objective system 3 to have an aperture which is much smaller than the corresponding lens 3 of Figure 1. This allows the end of the light guide 6 and the objective system 3 to be disposed adjacent each other.
  • Figure 3 shows a mode scrambler for use with any of the embodiments of the invention described above. Coherent light from a laser produces a grainy or specular effect in the final image. This effect can be eliminated by providing a mode scrambler at some point along the optical fibre 6. An example of a suitable mode scrambler is shown in Figure 3 in which a piezo-electric element 30 is attached to the fibre optic cable 6. The piezo-electric element 30 is driven by an alternating signal source 31 and the resulting vibrations set up in the cable cause mode scrambling of the light passing along the cable.
  • The spatial light modulator preferably comprises an electrically-addressed spatial light modulator comprising a silicon chip having an array of transistors whose metal contact areas function as specular reflectors with selectively adjustable polarisation angles. If the polarisation angle of the reflector corresponds with that of the incident light, then substantially all the incident light is reflected; if not, then light is reflected to a greater or lesser extent according to the degree of discrepancy between the respective angles of polarisation of the light and the reflectors. Such a light modulator is particularly advantageous in that it allows a physically compact, high resolution display to be realised.
  • The invention is not restricted to the arrangements shown in the embodiments and a number of modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.
  • For example, the invention may also be performed using alternative spatial light modulators such as transflective or transmissive liquid crystal displays. In the case of a transmissive display the polarising beam splitter 2 of Figure 1 would of course not be required as illumination would be from the side of the display remote from the objective system 3.
  • Additionally, while the objective system 3 has been described as comprising holographic elements, it may alternatively include or consist entirely of conventional optical elements. This is especially so in the embodiment of Figure 2, where the small aperture requirements allow a small and relatively light conventional lens to be employed.
  • The diffuser may be of any convenient type, for example a conventional diffuser e.g. ground glass, a holographic diffuser, or a Dammann grating. The latter is especially advantageous as it is highly efficient and produces an accurately controlled predetermined amount of spreading.
  • The holographic collimating combiner need not be located on the visor of the helmet, but may be disposed on some other transparent surface attached to the helmet in the wearer's field of view.

Claims (14)

1. A display assembly suitable for mounting on a helmet in which the display is formed by a spatial light modulator capable of being illuminated by a source of laser light, an optical system comprising at least one holographic element for forming an image of the said display, and an optical path between the spatial light modulator and the source of laser light comprising a single optical fibre.
2. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the optical system comprises a holographic collimator for producing a collimated image of the said display images.
3. A display assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the holographic collimator is disposed on the visor of a helmet.
4. A display assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the holographic collimator is a powered reflection hologram.
5. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spatial light modulator is an electrically addressable spatial light modulator.
6. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a diffuser is interposed in a plane of the optical system at which an intermediate real image of the display is produced.
7. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a polarising beam splitter is interposed between the electrically addressably spatial light modulator and the optical system.
8. A display assembly as claimed in claim 7 as appended to claims 1 - 5 in which a diffuser is interposed between the source of laser light and the electrically addressable spatial light modulator.
9. A display assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 7 in which an objective lens is disposed adjacent the spatial light modulator such that the objective is transversed by both incident light from the source of laser light and by modulated light reflected by the spatial light modulator.
10. A display assembly as claimed in claim 9 in which the incident light transverses a first polariser and the reflected light transverses a second polariser.
11. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the source of laser light comprises a helium neon laser.
12. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spatial light modulator comprises a reflective light modulator in which the angle of polarisation of light reflected therefrom is selectively adjustable.
13. A display assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 - 11 in which the spatial light modulator comprises a transmissive light modulator.
14. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the single optical fibre comprises a mode scrambler.
EP19900312055 1989-11-03 1990-11-02 Helmet mounted display Withdrawn EP0426497A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8924831 1989-11-03
GB898924831A GB8924831D0 (en) 1989-11-03 1989-11-03 Helmet mounted display

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0426497A2 true EP0426497A2 (en) 1991-05-08
EP0426497A3 EP0426497A3 (en) 1992-03-04

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EP19900312055 Withdrawn EP0426497A3 (en) 1989-11-03 1990-11-02 Helmet mounted display

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US (1) US5164848A (en)
EP (1) EP0426497A3 (en)
JP (1) JP3105534B2 (en)
GB (2) GB8924831D0 (en)
IL (1) IL96151A (en)

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GB9023878D0 (en) 1990-12-12
US5164848A (en) 1992-11-17
JPH03179314A (en) 1991-08-05
JP3105534B2 (en) 2000-11-06
EP0426497A3 (en) 1992-03-04
IL96151A (en) 1994-02-27
GB2238138A (en) 1991-05-22
GB8924831D0 (en) 1990-04-25
GB2238138B (en) 1993-06-16

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